Historic Martial Arts Research

This is a weapons forms analysis that I wrote as a guide for what options exist, and what options should be used, in SCA rapier melee.

Melee Weapons Analysis

by Signor Dante di Pietro

(mka Darren Di Battista)

I.Single Sword

A.Single
Rapier:

In Atlantia, a basic rapier
authorization carries with it the ability to use any of the other weapons
forms. As such, no one participating in a rapier melee should do so using only
a single rapier and an open hand.

i.Blades of
Lengths Greater Than Forty Inches

Many people use extra long swords
to which they are not accustomed in melee. Using any weapon without adequate
practice is inadvisable. Those who use blades of greater length should be aware
that while their reach will increase, their ability to perform disengages and
other subtle motions will be greatly diminished by the greater weight and
different balance of the blade. It will also be easier for an opponent to push
their blade off line. This will be true if you use a sword that is too big for
you; certainly there are fencers for whom a 45 inch blade is appropriate to
their height.

ii.Blades of
Lengths Less Than Forty Inches

Blades substantially less than 40
inches long are going to be less useful, especially in line formations, because
they lack the reach necessary to wound safely when facing multiple opponents. These shorter blades can be very useful in the hands of fast moving flanking units whose job is to strike aggressively, especially when engaging opponents who have brought longer, unwieldy blades more geared toward sniping from a line.

B.Nonrapier
Weapons:

Some weapons require the use of
two hands to be used effectively, such as katanas and longswords. These
weapons, when knowledgeably used, can be very effective for those who engage
primarily in highly mobile attacks as the leverage advantage two hands have
over one means that parrying a strong attack is very difficult. These are,
however, of less use in any type of line formation because of their generally
reduced reach. This can be offset when the pommel is gripped by a single hand, or when used to beat or bind enemy blades. Single-handed curved blades are inadvisable choices because of
their reduced range and limited thrusting ability.

II.Sword and
Offensive Second

A.Case of
Rapiers:

The conventional wisdom on using
two swords is that it is the best form to take into a melee. In practice, this
is rarely the case, as very few individuals are capable of fighting with two
swords effectively, typically resulting in the form of “sword and long metal
stick” or “sword and forgotten, immobile arm”. This causes a person to have a
weak side which can be attacked more easily by an opponent; one should avoid
case unless skilled and practiced in the form. Case of rapiers is most useful
in an open field and becomes less useful the more terrain is present, such as a
woods battle.

i.Blades of
Equal Length

Of those who fight case, some
favor using two blades of equal length. This choice has several distinct
advantages and disadvantages. The main benefits are that two longer blades
afford greater reach in more directions, and their similarity means that no
thought must be given to whether or not an opponent is in range for this blade
but not that; the reach will be uniform. The disadvantage to this is that using
two blades of equal length means that you will be very strong at a particular
range, but equally weak at others.

ii.Blades of
Unequal Length

A second option is to use two
swords of different length; a popular choice for this is to use a rapier and a smallsword.
This choice gives substantially better range in the off-hand than a dagger, but
allows for faster defensive movements than would be possible with a rapier.
This option also gives you two effective ranges. The drawback is that the
smallsword is neither as useful on defense as a dagger nor as useful on offense
as a rapier.

B.Sword and
Dagger:

Sword and dagger is typically the
most common form that people use when participating in single combat, and this
familiarity is a strong recommendation for its use in melee. The dagger hand
will respond automatically to opponents’ movements, which means there will be
no weak side to attack. While a dagger is not offensively useful in a line
under most circumstances, it is a strong defensive tool and is of particular
use when participating in a flanking maneuver or fighting in heavy terrain,
such as a woods battle. Its limitations also mean that your attention will not
be split between two ranges of attack at once, which will improve your defense
and help your attacks be true.

III.Sword and
Inoffensive Second:

A.Sword and Rigid
Parrying Device:

“Rigid parrying device” describes
a wide range of objects, both in frequency and shape. For the purposes of this
manual, we will only be examining the options that are common and providing
information about the relative strengths and weaknesses of each.

i.Sword and
Cane

Sword and cane functions, in many
ways, like rapier and smallsword mentioned above, with two substantial
differences: obviously, a cane cannot be used to wound an opponent, and a
smallsword is not as effective a tool for interacting with the opponent’s blade
in a disruptive manner. Canes are especially good at striking the opponent’s
blades to give an ally in a line an opening in which to strike. They will also
parry faster than a smallsword, as they can be gripped with a balance more
conducive to sweeping motions. Canes afford little protection to the off hand,
making it a prime target.

ii.Sword and
Buckler

The chief advantage to a buckler
is that it is effective defense even if it is used entirely passively; a
buckler will block an attack without being moved, and without the defender
necessarily even being aware of it. Because of this, sword and buckler can be
an effective form even for people who have not practiced it much. Bucklers need
to be large enough to cover a wide range of the body; a buckler that is too
small may as well be a main-gauche and one that is too large will hamper
movement and angle too much. Bucklers are most useful in line engagements, and
are more useful the greater the number of people on a side use them. Bucklers
are of particular value when missile weapons are in use.

iii.Sword and
Shield

Large shields, such as kites and heaters,
warrant discussion in a separate section from bucklers because they have their
own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Large shields offer
maximum protection to a large part of the body, but are comparatively heavy and
slow. While armored combatants do not need to worry about their shins and feet
being valid targets, these are a concern in fencing and many stances
appropriate for use with a larger shield leave those portions vulnerable. Large
shields will also limit mobility and angles available because of their size and
weight. They do possess the advantage of being very complete in their
protection for those who can overcome their drawbacks, and are often
particularly difficult for less experienced opponents to overcome. They also
have the advantage of being an effective tool for psychological warfare, as the
opponents across from a heater shield expect, however unwarranted, to be hit
with greater force and behave more timidly than they otherwise might. Shields
are of particular value when missile weapons are in use.

B.Sword and
Non-rigid Parrying Device:

Non-rigid parrying devices
typically include things like half capes and whips, and cloaks. Other
possibilities exist, but have characteristics that will make them similar
enough to a common device to be considered as such for all practical purposes.

i.Sword and HalfCape or Whip

These options have many significant
drawbacks and should be carefully considered before being used, if they are
ever used at all. They lack the reach to effectively interact with an
opponent’s blade, and even worse, an attempt to do so may well entangle the
blade of the ally to your side. This is also a risk while attempting to parry.
Lighter capes may be affected by wind as well. In most melee situations, these
are not advisable choices.

ii.Sword and
Cloak

A proper fighting cloak, used
well, will be better at defending the lower body than a buckler while being
equally good at defending the upper, and lighter and more maneuverable than a
shield. The disadvantage of the cloak is that it provides no protection to the
arm supporting it, and the risk of being wounded is much higher than with a
buckler or shield.